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ASU's humanities director wants to tap into students' passion for TV and music

By Steve Goldstein
Published: Tuesday, January 25, 2022 - 12:33pm
Updated: Tuesday, January 25, 2022 - 5:31pm

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Elisa New
Rose Lincoln/Harvard University
Elisa New

The term “humanities” can be difficult to define, or we can keep it simple by declaring it to encompass a study of all of the things that make us human, including critical thinking, analysis, arts and music.

Arizona State University recently created a Center for Public Humanities on its Tempe campus which will encompass all of those things as it ventures to bring together the existing schools and departments already covering the broad, interdisciplinary swathe.

The center’s director is Elisa New, who comes to ASU after many years as a professor of American literature at Harvard. She is also director and host of “Poetry in America” on PBS, which began its third season earlier this month.

The Show spoke with New to learn about what brought her to ASU, and what she hopes the center will accomplish.

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